Starting in 2025, Detectives assigned to the New Castle County Division of Police Drug and Human Trafficking Investigations Team initiated an investigation into illicit sexual acts occurring at several massage businesses in New Castle County.
During the investigation, Detectives received information that clients were being offered sexual acts while receiving massages at Wellness Tui-Na, located at 1304 Old Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, Delaware.
While conducting surveillance, Detectives observed a black Subaru driven by a male park behind the business. The male was later identified as 74-year-old Joseph Johnson of Pennsville, New Jersey. Detectives observed Johnson enter the business and later exit with 62-year-old Mingzi Nan.
Detectives continued to monitor Johnson and Nan as they traveled to multiple other businesses, including:
• Angel Magic Therapy, 2501 Foulk Road, Wilmington
• Panda Therapy Massage, 1088A South Chapel Street, Newark
Throughout the investigation, Johnson and Nan were also observed leaving these establishments and traveling to multiple casinos and banks.
As the investigation continued, Detectives established that clients at Panda Therapy Massage were offered sexual acts in exchange for money by 63-year-old Meilan Lanno, also known as Meilan Xu, of Newark, the owner and operator of the business.
Multiple search warrants were applied for, granted, and executed at several locations.
On Thursday, January 21, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Tui-Na Spa. During the search, Detectives determined that Mingzi Nan was offering sexual acts in exchange for money during massage appointments and subsequently visiting local casinos with the proceeds. Detectives also made contact with a potential human trafficking victim at this location.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Angel Magic Therapy, where 63-year-old Juli Cha of Laurel, Delaware, was identified as the owner-operator. During the investigation at that location, Detectives made contact with potential human trafficking victims who reported they had not been compensated for working at the spa.
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Juli Cha was observed at Panda Spa and was later taken into custody during a vehicle stop. A search warrant was also executed at Panda Spa that same day, where Meilan Lanno was located.
Throughout the investigation, approximately $13,988 was seized from the businesses and individuals involved.
On Thursday, January 21, 2026, Mingzi Nan was taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where she was charged with
- One felony count of Conduct Transaction Involving Proceeds of Criminal Activity
- One felony count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
- One misdemeanor count of Practicing as a Massage Technician Without Certification
- One misdemeanor count of Criminal Nuisance
Nan was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to post $10,200 secure bail.
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Meilan Lanno, Juli Cha, and Joseph Johnson were taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where they were charged as follows:
Meilan Lanno
• One felony count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• One misdemeanor count of Criminal Nuisance
Lanno was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $5,100 cash bail.
Joseph Johnson
• One felony count of Conduct Transaction Involving Proceeds of Criminal Activity
• One felony count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree
• One traffic violation of Failing to Remain Within a Single Lane
• One traffic violation of Failure to Signal Continuously
Johnson was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $12,100 cash bail.
Juli Cha
• One felony count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• Two misdemeanor counts of Wage Theft Under $1,500
• One misdemeanor count of Criminal Nuisance
Cha was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $7,100 secure bail and $5,100 cash bail.
As a result of the investigation, the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation was notified regarding the incident involving this business.
The female workers contacted at the spas were referred to the New Castle County Police Department’s Victim Services Unit, which provides support and resources to individuals affected by such cases.
